Tough victory: Australia
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Robbie Deans was left a relieved coach after watching his Wallabies come back from 13 points down to beat Argentina 23-19 on Saturday.
After back-to-back losses to the All Blacks, the Wallabies have now fought back to win their last two, having beaten South Africa last weekend.
"I wouldn't underestimate what we did here tonight, I mean the Argentines are a good side, no team has played consistently against them," Deans said.
"They're a great side, a side that plays with a lot of pride and a lot of ambition."
Australia full-back Berrick Barnes, who kicked 13 points for his side, praised his team-mates character after being part of the comeback.
"They made it hard for us in every facet of the game," he said.
"They scrapped a couple of tries off silly turnovers and made it really hard for us.
"But tonight we were able to fight back from 19-6 down. The bench came on and gave us great impact and straight-line running, which helped us."
Comments
sandal says...
@Trinats
You're right, Cooper might not have missed the kick.
But at that distance Deans had more faith in Beale. (Remember that magnificent kick of his to win in South Africa?)
I rated Cooper a less than 50:50 chance to get it, and I imagine many others felt the same.
Posted 07:51 18th September 2012
Trinats2 says...
sandal:
Who's to say Cooper would have missed the kick. In the warm up he was knocking them over the black dot. Had Barnes hit the post with his third, Cooper would have taken over kicking duties.
Agree with McCabe running down a winger !
Posted 14:41 17th September 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
georgesmith, you really know nothing about rugby, do you?
Posted 08:41 17th September 2012
sandal says...
@georgesmith
Barnes did well at fullback, though playing him there was a gamble.
Deans clearly wanted him for his goalkicking -- given how tight the Pumas can make the game, they are not a side to take on without a reliable goalkicker.
Deans might have played McCabe at fullback, where after all he made his mark in Super rugby. But that would have meant playing Barnes at second-five, and Deans clearly didn't fancy an inside channel of Cooper and Barnes to oppose those big Argentine backs and loose forwards. McCabe at second-five provided a far more robust defence than Cooper-Barnes.
Posted 06:45 17th September 2012
sandal says...
It was Deans that won it.
The Wallabies were giving that final, decisive goalkick to Cooper, till Deans sent the message out via the waterboy that Beale should take it. And with a cool head Beale duly delivered. That was a fine kick.
The Pumas, who might have got within range of the Wallabies line for a winning dropped goal if Cooper had attempted the penalty, instead had to score a try to take the game. Like England in such circumstances, they never looked likely. Indeed, the Pumas appear to be the only team in the championship incapable of winning from behind with a five-pointer. But they'll probably prove me wrong in a fortnight.
The Wallabies were good for this win; it was the right result. As for McCabe, a second-five, running down a winger ... that shouldn't happen, but he showed a great turn of pace.
Posted 06:41 17th September 2012
dropkick says...
Los Pumas have completely revitalised a near moribund Tri-Nations and soon someone is gonna get it big time. By my reckoning they are 2 or 3 players short of being really competitive. They have pushed the established teams and once they get thier heads around the travel and find a some attacking weaponsto bolt onto their obvious strengths they are going to be a handful. Fairly soon NZ/OZ/SA forward pack is going to be on the wrong end of an oldfashioned belting.
I have a feeling Uncle Ted will soon find the key for Los Pumas and a new world order might be the result.
Posted 03:55 17th September 2012
Terry_English says...
You justify Berrick Barnes at full back because Beale is out of form, Cooper offers more at flyhalf and you need a decent goalkicker, which Barnes is!
Not sure why Deans gets so much bad press. Australia are trinations champs, are 7 of last 8 matches against Boks and are ranked second in the world. Half the team is missing and the've gone back to back wins against two physical sides. Given how poor Australias Super franchises are he is a miracle worker.
Posted 17:38 16th September 2012
hellovanite says...
I wonder what the great Wallaby flanker would think of such a douche using his name as a monika?
Posted 10:41 16th September 2012
georgesmith says...
R. Deans is crazy coach. How do you justify B.Barnes at fullback ahead of K.Beale? You have no sense of player injury management. He rushed P.McCabe from injury just like he tried too do with J.O'Connor and J.Horwill during his tenure. This man is destroying Wallabies slowly.
Posted 22:08 15th September 2012